Lady Of Sorrows? I Think Not!

Pete winced as he pressed the ice pack to his forehead. He didn’t doubt that this vicious hangover could take down a walrus. His head filled with a stuffy pain, Pete lay down on the couch and covered his eyes with his arm in an attempt to dull the ache behind his eyes. Soon after Gerard had left for work, Vic had rushed out as well, calling a goodbye as he passed the lounge and leaving Pete alone. For a while he tried acting like a human, but he was too lazy for that to last very long and he ended up impersonating a couch potato instead.

The TV was on with the sound muted; the flashing images hadn’t helped his headache in the slightest. Pete knew he always drank way too much but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Sighing loudly, Pete placed the ice bag on his eyes and fantasized fitfully about sleep.

A loud, angry slam woke Pete with a start. He jerked himself into a sitting as his eyes tried to look everywhere at once in the darkness. They soon found what they sought; a very pissed off Vic as he dumped his bag and headed for the kitchen.

“Hey man, what’s eating you?” Pete called before he yawned widely. Somehow after sleeping all day, he still felt tired as death. Getting to is feet slowly and stretching as he went, Pete followed the sounds of banging cupboards, a mug being banged onto a counter top, and the soft bubbling of the coffee machine. Pete leaned against the door frame and covered his mouth as another mega yawn escaped him. He waited patiently, knowing his friend would talk when he was ready.

Vic stood with his arms crossed tightly against his chest; his eyes glared furiously at the coffee pot as if he felt it were filling up too slowly. He sighed, uncrossed and re-crossed his arms, and Pete knew it would be less than a minute before his friend couldn’t hold it back

“I’m just so fucking over this teacher, man! He’s a total asshole, and I’m damn sure he does it on purpose.” Vic chewed his full, soft bottom lip as his expression changed from anger to hopeless confusion. “How in the hell am I supposed to do a six month assignment in two?” Pete knew Vic didn’t expect an answer but he still wished he could give one. He opened his mouth but paused as Vic continued, “The whole damned class is going to fail so that jerkoff can have a fucking holiday. Kellin works after his day classes and with me working weekends; we won’t have enough time to even consider working on it. Not to mention the amount of time the research alone will take.” Vic sighed in utter defeat. Pete placed a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“It’s okay, Vic, we’ll figure something out. Maybe you could ask your lecturer to let you work in bigger groups to share out the research time?”

Vic took a deep breath and flashed Pete a strained smile. “I’ll call Kellin later and see if he’s okay with that. We had it all planned out; we’ll have to revise it all with a new group.” Vic turned his stressed, but slightly more relaxed, attention back to his coffee. “Gerard called and said they asked him to stay late. Apparently the new kid spilled a tray of hot coffee on himself and one of the customers.”

Pete whistled softly, “Damn, poor kid seemed so nervous the other day. He must feel awful.”
Vic nodded his agreement and stirred cream into his coffee while Pete got a glass of water. Vic got his friend’s attention again with a very important question.

“So, Piranha 3D or Cabin in the Woods?” Both guys grinned and walked through to the lounge.
Pete took a sip and replied, “I don’t see why we can’t watch both.”

The café was busy, and as Gerard listened to a particularly difficult customer change his order for the fourth time, he felt an uncharacteristic surge of anger wash over him. If that stupid kid had just been more careful, he could be in the comfort of his own home instead of nursing blisters and slow clients. He withheld a sigh. He couldn’t blame Brendon for this, the poor boy was nervous enough already. It was only his first month. Gerard zoned back in as the client seemed to be nearing a decision, having been hurried by the people behind him in line.

“Just give me a latte with extra cream.” Gerard painfully contained the eye roll that begged to be performed at that simple order after standing there for nearly twenty minutes. As Gerard turned back from checking the coffee machine was full, he smiled his bright smile.
Mikey stepped forward with a smile; the guy Gerard assumed to be Mikey’s friend came forward too.

“Hey Mikez, that’s two visits on one day; I feel special.” Gerard beamed as his brother let out a rich laugh. He had missed that sound.

“Don’t you ever forget it.” Mikey brushed his slightly too long blond hair from his eyes and half turned to his companion. He indicated his brother who was gazing at the new guy curiously.

“Frank, this is my big brother, Gerard. Gerard,” Mikey smiled at him,” this is my new roommate, Frank Iero.” The new guy, Frank, offered Gee his hand over the counter, which he shook awkwardly. He smiled as he looked over this man’s features; they would be heaven to draw. Gerard dragged his eyes away from Frank before his staring was noticed.

“Remind us again what happened to your last roommate?” Gerard bit is pretty pink bottom lip, feeling like he was connecting with Mikey again. He knew it was because of Frank that Mikey wasn’t on his cell or out drinking. Mikey led Frank to the barstools further down the counter and launched eagerly into the Tale of the Rogue Roomie. Frank seemed to be enjoying himself as he roared with laughter in time with Mikey’s extravagant gesturing.

After serving a few more people, the line was finally finished and Gerard could take a moment to restock the coffee bar while everyone sat at their tables or couches, or with their groups. The noise level was a pleasant buzz of voices occasionally punctuated by a ring of laughter. Sorting out the bar didn’t take long, so Gee moved further down the bar to lean against the counter opposite his little brother, catching the tail end of a story he had hoped to forget. He sighed and crossed his arms on the counter as Mikey finished his little speech in between fits of laughter.

Frank didn’t seem to find Gerard embarrassment nearly as amusing as Mikey, but he laughed any way to keep Mikey happy. I could already see this guy being good for Mikez; maybe even good enough to stop him from drinking permanently. Gerard excused himself from the conversation to waste more time listening to Mr. Slow, as Gee had named a particularly annoying regular. He always ordered the same thing, but spent so long standing and staring at the menu before getting his small, one-pump mocha. Gerard already had it made by the time Mr. Slow ordered.

Other than a group of teenagers that came in about an hour later, the rest of the evening was quiet. Gerard really enjoyed getting to talk to Mikey again; they had been so close once. Mikez and Frank stayed until Gerard could lock up and even walked out with him once he got his things from the store room.

Mikey got a phone call practically as they walked out the door, so Frank walked Gerard the short way down the street to his car. Gerard fished in his backpack for his keys, but as he pulled them out of the side pocket the cold metal slipped from between his pale fingers. Frank deftly snatched the keys out of the air as if it was nothing. Gerard stared in amazement. Frank handed Gerard back his keys and smiled a cocky, crooked smile and turned to walk back to Mikey. Gerard waved at his brother and couldn’t help but smile as he watched Frank walk away; he was such a nice guy.

The man behind Gerard boiled white hot with rage. He had seen the way that man had looked at HIS Gerard, HIS Gee, when he thought the beautiful sweet pet hadn’t been looking. But he couldn’t have him! Gerard was HIS! Fists clenched and eyes burning with rage, he looked at the stunning, soft Gerard. He had smiled back. A feral growl rose in his throat as he stormed towards Gerard with his hands outstretched like claws.

Notes

Go back to the beginning of this chapter, read it again, and enjoy the normal while it lasts. lol Stuffz gonna get so weird :D Aww yeah.

Comment please; they make me happy. Thoughts on our darling Frankie? Who do you think the stalker is? How did Frank move so fast?

Rock 'n Roll, Pansies